The Marshalltown High School to Marshalltown Community College pipeline continues for men's soccer coach Rafael Martinez as four members of the Bobcats have committed to play for the Tigers in the 2016 season.
MHS seniors Oswaldo Rodriguez, Alex Diaz, Fernando Mendoza, and Eh Htoo will join the Tigers for the upcoming season, continuing a tradition of local products continuing their playing careers and educations at MCC.
Chris Fuchsen, the MHS head coach and also an assistant coach at MCC, sees the pipeline as an integral part to developing soccer-rich traditions in the community. "It's very important for the younger generations in Marshalltown to be able to look up to these guys moving on and see they actually have an opportunity and a platform to showcase their talents both on and off the field. As teachers and coaches that's what we want for our kids, to be able to believe they have a platform to live their dreams."
Rodriguez has scored three goals early on during his senior season for the Bobcats and finished his junior campaign with 24 points. Diaz and Mendoza have each added six points this season playing primarily from the midfield positions. Htoo has tacked on three assists in 11 games for the Bobcats in 2016.
MCC head coach Rafael Martinez has a keen eye for local talent. "We like to find talented players from the community that fit our program," Martinez stated. "That's always a positive for us. It makes it that much better for us that we continue to have that option. These four players follow the path that other guys have done before them successfully, such as David Gomez and Agustin Ortiz, and these players will continue that tradition."
Former Tigers Gomez and Ortiz helped lay the foundation for the MCC-to-MHS connection. The two former Tigers, who played club soccer with the four incoming Tigers in earlier years, recently finished their playing careers at MCC and have each signed a National Letter of Intent with Grand View University for next season.
Mendoza, who has been a member of the Bobcats for just one season, has followed the Tigers' success closely. "It's a very good program and I look forward to being a part of a strong team." Diaz pointed to the continued success of the MCC program as a primary reason for choosing MCC to continue his playing career. "I think MCC is a quality team and they have a lot to offer for kids like us growing up in Marshalltown and I look forward to helping build the program."
Rodriguez mentioned former Tigers such as Gomez and Ortiz as role models throughout his career. "We always looked up them. They always put in the work and were very successful. Seeing them move on to a four-year college is very inspiring to us."
Diaz hopes to continue to build future pathways for the younger generation of soccer players in Marshalltown. "We want to continue to show the young kids of Marshalltown to know that if you put in the work you can play at the college level."
"We've built a good chemistry together here at the high school and we look forward to continuing that together at MCC," Rodriguez added.
